Arriva acquires Chase Coaches Ltd

Local transport operator Arriva has acquired ChaseCoaches Limited.

Chase Coaches operates commercial and tendered services inStaffordshire, along with commercial services in the West Midlands(Centro area). The company has 40 employees, 27 vehicles and in2005 reported an annual turnover of £2 million.

In the Midlands, Arriva operates 735 buses from 16 locationsacross Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, South Derbyshireand in Derby.

Catherine Mason, managing director of Arriva Midlands, said:

This acquisition gives Arriva Midlands a goodopportunity to expand our presence in the West Midlands along withdeveloping our services in Staffordshire. The population inStaffordshire is set to expand over the next five years, giving usstrong growth prospects.